With the rise in diseases like hypertension and high cholesterol, cardiologists are needed now more than ever. They educate patients about the risks of stroke, heart attacks and heart failure. They're responsible for performing EKGs, treadmill stress tests, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations and angioplasties.

Step 1Get a bachelor's degree in an analytical subject like life sciences, chemistry, economics, engineering or psychology. It's not necessary to do a premed curriculum to succeed as a cardiologist.

Step 2Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to get into medical school. Check out the Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME), which accredits medical schools in the United States and Canada.

Step 3Concentrate on internal medicine in medical school. You learn about preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases affecting all organ systems. Cardiology specialization comes later.

Step 4Perform a three year residency program in internal medicine. This is a prerequisite for every cardiologist. You need to treat patients directly during your residency. Your level of responsibility increases as you progress through the program.

Step 5Acquire your license to practice medicine in your state. This is a prerequisite to getting certified as a cardiologist by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

Step 6Get certified by the ABIM. This requires you attended an accredited medical school and meet certain standards in your residency program.

Step 7Complete three years of cardiology residency once certified as an internist. This includes performing cardiac catheterizations, EKGs and other cardiac tests.

Step 8Take the American Board of Internal Medicine test to get certified as a cardiologist.